Joy through peace with God (Romans 5)

Having thoroughly addressed justification through faith in Jesus and giving us a good grasp on the place and purpose of the law, Paul now points out some fruit that we will bear once we have put our hope in Jesus. This access to God that Jesus has paved, is through no doing of our own. We can now enjoy freedom and confidence in him, as we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Paul tells us we rejoice in our sufferings. Why does he say this? How is rejoicing in suffering even possible? God has poured out his love on us so freely and generously, not because of anything we did or deserved, and furthermore he did it while we were still sinners. We will enjoy peace with God when we put our faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.